Vehicle retractable roof with two pivoting arms

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a vehicle retractable roof, comprising a front roof element ( 1 ), an intermediate roof element ( 2 ) and a rear roof element ( 3 ). The displacement of the rear element ( 3 ) towards the rear deck ( 5 ) is controlled by at least an arm ( 6 ) articulated to the vehicle chassis and to the rear element ( 3 ). The invention is characterised in that the rear element ( 3 ) is linked to the intermediate element ( 2 ) through a lever ( 9 ) articulated near the front edge of the rear element ( 3 ) and articulated to the intermediate element ( 2 ), the latter being linked to the chassis through a second arm ( 12 ) articulated to the chassis and to the intermediate element ( 2 ), and the front of the intermediate element ( 2 ) is linked to the front element ( 1 ) through two articulated levers ( 15, 16 ) forming a deformable quadrilateral, said second arm ( 12 ) articulated to the chassis being linked to one ( 15 ) of the two levers forming a deformable quadrilateral by a hinge link ( 17 ) articulated to said second arm ( 12 ) and to said lever ( 15 ), and linking means are provided between the first arm ( 6 ) and the second arm ( 12 ) or between the first arm ( 6 ) and one ( 9 ) of the levers linking the rear element ( 3 ) to the intermediate element ( 2 ) or between the latter lever ( 9 ) and a fixed articulation point ( 20 ) of the chassis.

[0001] The present invention concerns a roof which can be retracted orwithdrawn into the rear boot of a vehicle.

[0002] Such a retractable roof makes it possible in particular toconvert a vehicle of the two-seater coupe or four-seater coupe or saloontype into a vehicle of the cabriolet type.

[0003] In the case of four-seater coupes or saloons, the roof has arelatively long length, so that the retractable roof is composed ofthree elements, each of which has a length compatible with thedimensions of the vehicle boot.

[0004] Thus a retractable roof for a vehicle is known, comprising afront roof element, an intermediate roof element and a rear roofelement, these three elements being able to move between a position inwhich they cover the vehicle cabin and a position in which they aresuperimposed substantially horizontally in the rear boot of the vehicle.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to afford improvements to theknown means, in order to optimally control and guide the movement of theroof elements between their closure position and their position ofstorage in the boot.

[0006] According to the invention, the retractable roof is characterisedin that the movement of the rear element towards the boot is controlledby at least one arm articulated on the chassis of the vehicle and on therear element, in that the rear element is connected to the intermediateelement by a lever articulated close to the front edge of the rearelement and articulated on the intermediate element, the latter beingconnected to the chassis by a second arm articulated on the chassis andon the intermediate element, in that the front of the intermediateelement is connected to the front element by two articulated leversforming a deformable quadrilateral, the said second arm articulated onthe chassis being connected to one of the two levers forming adeformable quadrilateral by a link articulated on the said second armand on the said lever, and in that connection means are provided betweenthe first arm and the second arm or between the first arm and one of thelevers connecting the rear element to the intermediate element orbetween the latter lever and a fixed articulation point on the chassis.

[0007] Other particularities and advantages of the invention will alsoemerge from the following description.

[0008] In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limitingexamples:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic view in partial longitudinal section of avehicle equipped with a retractable roof according to the invention, inthe closed position;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the retractable roof being inan intermediate position;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, the retractable roofbeing in the position stored in the vehicle boot.

[0012] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3, the retractable roofcomprises a front roof element 1, an intermediate roof element 2 and arear roof element 3. These three elements 1, 2, 3 are able to movebetween a position in which (see FIG. 1) they cover the cabin 4 of thevehicle and a position in which (see FIG. 3) they are superimposedsubstantially horizontally in the rear boot 5 of the vehicle.

[0013] According to the invention, the movement of the rear element 3towards the boot 5 is controlled by an arm 6 articulated at 7 on thechassis of the vehicle and at 8 on the rear element 3.

[0014] The rear element 3 is connected to the intermediate element 2 bya lever 9 articulated at 10 close to the front edge 3 a of the rearelement 3 and is articulated at 11 on the intermediate element 2. Thelatter is connected to the chassis by a second arm 12 articulated at 13on the chassis and at 14 on the intermediate element 2.

[0015] The front of the intermediate element 2 is connected to the frontelement 1 by two articulated levers 15, 16 forming a deformablequadrilateral.

[0016] The second arm 12 articulated on the chassis is connected to one15 of the two levers forming a deformable quadrilateral by a link 17articulated at 18 on the second arm 12 and at 19 on the lever 15.

[0017] In addition, connection means are provided between the first arm6 and the second arm 12 or between the first arm 6 and the lever 9connecting the rear element 3 to the intermediate element 2 or betweenthe lever 9 and a fixed articulation point 20 on the chassis.

[0018] According to a first version, the aforementioned connection meanscomprise a link 21 articulated on the first arm 6 and on the second arm12. This link 21 can be replaced (see FIG. 2) by a chain 22 or a notchedbelt wound around two gears 23, 24 mounted on the pivot shafts 7 and 13of the arms 6 and 12 and fixed to these.

[0019] In a second version, a lever 25 is articulated on the lever 9connecting the rear element 3 and the intermediate element 2 andarticulated at a fixed point 20 on the chassis.

[0020] In a third version, the connection means comprise a link 26articulated on the first arm 6 and on one 9 of the levers connecting therear 3 and intermediate 2 elements.

[0021] In the example depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3, the movement of the rearelement 3 towards the boot 5 is also controlled by a finger 27 carriedby the rear part 3 b of the rear element 3 slidably engaged in a runner28 extending inside the boot 5.

[0022] Instead of the finger 27 and the runner 28, the movement of therear element 3 towards the boot 5 can be controlled by a second arm (notshown) articulated on the chassis and on the rear part 3 b of the rearelement 3.

[0023] The retractable roof which has just been described functions asfollows:

[0024] After unlocking of the elements 1, 2, 3 and opening of the lid 5a of the boot 5, the pivoting of the arm 6 controlled by a motor oractuator drives the rear element 3 towards the boot 5, the movement ofthis element 3 being guided by the sliding of the finger 27 along therunner 28.

[0025] The movement of the element 3 makes the levers 9, 12 pivotupwards and towards the rear, by virtue of the connection means 21 or 22or 25 or 26.

[0026] The movement of the levers 9, 12 raises the element 2 and makesit pass above the rear element 3, as shown by FIG. 2.

[0027] The pivoting of the arm 12 controls, by means of the link 17connecting this arm 12 to the lever 15, the pivoting of the levers 15,16 and the raising of the front element 1, which thus passes over theintermediate element 2, as also shown by FIG. 2.

[0028] The movement of the elements 1, 2, 3 continues until they arestored substantially horizontally in the boot 5, as shown by FIG. 3.

[0029] In a simplified version of the invention, in particular in thecase of coupes which have only two seats, the retractable roof couldcomprise only the two elements 2 and 3.

1. A retractable roof for a vehicle, comprising a front roof element(1), an intermediate roof element (2) and a rear roof element (3), thesethree elements being able to move between a position in which they coverthe vehicle cabin (4) and a position in which they are superimposedsubstantially horizontally in the rear boot (5) of the vehicle,characterised in that the movement of the rear element (3) towards theboot (5) is controlled by at least one arm (6) articulated on thechassis of the vehicle and on the rear element (3), in that the rearelement (3) is connected to the intermediate element (2) by a lever (9)articulated close to the front edge of the rear element (3) andarticulated on the intermediate element (2), the latter being connectedto the chassis by a second arm (12) articulated on the chassis and onthe intermediate element (2), in that the front of the intermediateelement (2) is connected to the front element (1) by two articulatedlevers (15, 16) forming a deformable quadrilateral, the said second arm(12) articulated on the chassis being connected to one (15) of the twolevers forming a deformable quadrilateral by a link (17) articulated onthe said second arm (12) and on the said lever (15), and in thatconnection means are provided between the first arm (6) and the secondarm (12) or between the first arm (6) and one (9) of the leversconnecting the rear element (3) to the intermediate element (2) orbetween the latter lever (9) and a fixed articulation point (20) on thechassis.
 2. A retractable roof according to claim 1, characterised inthat the said connection means comprise a link (21) articulated on thefirst arm (6) and on the second arm (12).
 3. A retractable roofaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the said connection meanscomprise a lever (25) articulated on one (9) of the levers connectingthe rear element (3) and the intermediate element (2) and articulated ata fixed point (20) on the chassis.
 4. A retractable roof according toclaim 1, characterised in that the said connection means comprise a link(26) articulated on the first arm (6) and on one (9) of the leversconnecting the rear (3) and intermediate (2) elements.
 5. A retractableroof according to claim 1, characterised in that the said connectionmeans comprise a chain (22) or a notched belt wound around two gears(23, 24) mounted on the pivot shafts (7) and (13) of the arms (6) and(12) and fixed to these.
 6. A retractable roof according to claim 1,characterised in that the movement of the rear element (3) towards theboot (5) is also controlled by a finger (27) carried by the rear part (3a) of the rear element (3) slidably engaged in a runner (28) extendinginside the boot (5).
 7. A retractable roof according to claim 1,characterised in that the movement of the rear element (3) towards theboot (5) is also controlled by a second arm articulated on the chassisand on the rear part (3 a) of the rear element (3).